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The company known best for its ultimate driving machines has taken off the wraps of the production version of its electric i3.

“What the mobile phone did to communications, this car will do to mobility,” said BMW group CEO Norbert Reithofer said this morning in New York City.

The Big Apple was just one of three cities debuting the BMW i3 in this global extravaganza, though photos and information about the car have trickled out for the past two years. The other two cities were London and Beijing, representing BMW‘s home continent, and, the largest car market in the world, respectively. For those who may have missed BMW i3 pricing, our BMW i3 First Drive plus a tour of the i3’s factory — below are five notable facts (in no particular order) enthusiasts and BMW fans should know about the car, from the launch event in New York City.

1. Volume: BMW is planning to build about 30,000 vehicles during its first year. Like many vehicles before it, the production-spec i3 was never expected to look as dramatic as its concept form. The i3 is no exception. In fact, the i3 looks completely satisfactory, if not like an unexciting four-passenger grocery getter. At first glance, it appears like a quite normal high-end subcompact vehicle. Certainly not high praise for such a technology-packed vehicle, but the right look for a car that hopes to draw mass appeal.

2. Design: BMW’s kidney-shaped grille is not an air intake, but its blue trim is one of many interesting exterior design details including the U-shaped LED headlights and a unique window line where the second-row windows are lower than the front row. BMW calls its second row doors “coach doors,” meaning there’s no B-pillar on which to hinge them, so they open up like suicide doors only after the front door is open.

Designers pushed the i3’s 19-inch light alloyed wheels out to the corners to create as much passenger space inside. (Twenty-inch wheels are available.) Its hatch design appears as a matter of necessity in order to maintain enough head space for the rear two passengers. Interior volume numbers will be released later, but it appears on par with most subcompact vehicles such as the Ford Fiesta and Honda Fit.

3. Performance: BMW estimates a 0-60 mph time of around 7.2 seconds with a top speed limited to 93 mph. The electric motor powering the i3 produces 170 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque and is mated to a single-speed transmission. Batteries are placed under the floor of the car to help lower its center of gravity. All told, the i3 has an expected range of 80 to 100 miles when fully charged, BMW says. Drive it angry and mileage will drop like any other electric car.

4. Extended Range: For $3850, BMW’s optional 34-hp gas-powered two-cylinder range-extender will recharge the lithium-ion battery and add about 80 miles to the i3’s range. Unlike the Chevrolet Volt, which uses the gas engine to drive the car, this small 650cc engine will not move the wheels.

But the idea of this car is really for heavily urbanized environments. Places where distance is not the most important factor in using a car. The same reasoning is what brought us cars like the smart fortwo vehicle, a miserable machine whose best feature is parking it at the subway station.

The i3 appears much better prepared with a stylish interior, a decent range and parkable wheelbase. The car’s interior looks amazing. Light-colored leathers, a futuristic design and moves in a direction away from traditional BMWs dark and brooding interior space.

The more crowded cities get, the more there will be a need for zero-emission vehicles. Owners will likely reap a host of perks such tax rebates, carpool lane access, preferred parking, fewer usage fees and other bureaucratic benefits designed to electrify city traffic and lower overall city smog.

Meanwhile cities continue to scramble to create an automotive electric infrastructure for electric vehicle owners. But all of the signs are pointing to more charging points coming online everyday.

5. Price: The i3 will arrive next year with a reasonable-for-a-BMW price starting at $42,275. That’s just under the starting price of a 335i sedan but more expensive than other electrics currently on the road today including the Ford Focus, Nissan Leaf, Fiat 500e and Chevrolet Spark EV.